Advice for a seller, buyer is requesting a partial refund on a no returns item

[sommerstime]

I have a buyer requesting a partial refund ‘in good faith’  because the glasses she bought are giving her a headache.  They were prescription glasses. Brand new never worn.  I always take returns on my items in my store, but this item I put no returns because I did not want them back. My auction was correct and clear with significant amount of information., also stating no returns.

her email stated: “I suppose I should have done more due diligence with this item. But I hate to be out that much for something that may not be of value. Would you consider a fair amount of up to $25? I made a mistake. Thanks.”

she paid $85

 What would you do and how would you handle this situation ?

[pauyo_43]

I'd probably do it on the basis of goodwill. She could always return the glasses and eBay will have her back and you'd be stuck with them again.

There isn't anything such as no returns these days.

[softersilk]

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@sommerstime wrote:

I have a buyer requesting a partial refund ‘in good faith’  because the glasses she bought are giving her a headache.  They were prescription glasses. Brand new never worn.  I always take returns on my items in my store, but this item I put no returns because I did not want them back. My auction was correct and clear with significant amount of information., also stating no returns.

her email stated: “I suppose I should have done more due diligence with this item. But I hate to be out that much for something that may not be of value. Would you consider a fair amount of up to $25? I made a mistake. Thanks.”

she paid $85

 What would you do and how would you handle this situation ?

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NO NO NO NO NO!

This is the oldest eBay scam in the books.  Think about it.  Even if you send her $25, the glasses still give her a headache.  She is playing a game with you.

This old scam is so well known that eBay even has rules that address it.  https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/buying-practices-policy?id=4374  Read about demanding a partial refund.

Look at buyer feedback left for others. I bet you will see hints like "HONEST seller!" Or "Best service ever!!!!!" or "had an issue but seller made it easy" or revised feedbacks.

DO NOT TAKE THIS BAIT.  Report and block.

[castlemagicmemories]

I'm not sure how a partial refund will make the glasses acceptable or eliminate her headaches.

Return for refund.  Possibly she would find them acceptable and not return them.

You could message the buyer and say that you are sorry but you cannot in all good conscience leave her with an item that is giving her headaches because you care about her health and are a better seller than that.  Please return for full refund.  Thank you very much.  

[softersilk]

In that link, click on "not allowed".

That she did not threaten your feedback is irrelevant.   It just means that she tried selling it out before and got warned not to be so explicit.

Guarantee that if you get scared of feedback and send her money, you will get more of these demands.  

Report, block and tell her something like, "We sold the glasses as final sale and we sent you what you ordered.  We are unable to accept a return."  

She will then likely "educate you" to tell you that she doesn't want a return.  She wants to keep them but have you send her some money.  It will be easier on you than taking a return, blah blah blah.  Sometimes the scammers who do this are so stupid, they blatantly make a threat.

Every scared seller who sends these folks money strengthens this subculture.  If other sellers had told her NO, she would not be doing it to you.

[southern*sweet*tea]

"Dear buyer,

Sorry you're not happy with the glasses. Please return them for a full refund.

Thank you,

Seller"

Send the buyer that message. If they're not happy with the glasses, they'll return them. If they're trying to shame and/or bully you into a post-sale discount, they'll keep trying to twist your arm, and each twist will get stronger.

Anyone who wears glasses knows that getting a discount isn't going to change the fact that an incorrect prescription isn't going to help your vision.

[smileytown18]

Every seller that gives into this makes it happen more often.
For yourself and others, just reply: Please return with trackable mail for a full refund.

[gryhndmom3]

Agree with the others on just have her send them back and refund her. as some have stated with eBay the buyer is always right and if buyer escalates you will end up with a return forced on you by eBay. eBay “forced” me to take a return this week even though I have “no returns” as buyer said item doesn’t match pictures (buyer didn’t get indigo is a dark color for jeans she called it black and eBay backed her claim) 

[pburn]

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@sommerstime wrote:

 What would you do and how would you handle this situation ?

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I'd beg her to return them to me, and I'd even pay for return shipping. When I got them back, I wouldn't relist them--unless I met the listed exception of being a  preapproved seller. Are you?

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/medicine-medical-devices-healthcare-p...

 Not allowed

Many medical devices that require a prescription aren't allowed, for example:

• Contact lenses (prescription or non-prescription)
• Prescription eyewear* (vintage eyeglasses sold for collectible purposes are allowed)

* At our discretion we may allow sales of these items in designated categories by preapproved sellers.

[mam98031]

Dang, if the glasses are giving the buyer a headache, then the buyer should realize that the perscription is WRONG for their eyes.  They could be damaging their eyesight by wearing these glasses.  IMHO really a bad idea to buy perscription lenses off Ebay.

As to the OP's issue.  I'm with the others, I don't know how a $25 refund is going to reduce the buyer's headaches.  That certainly sounds a bit fishy to me.

I wouldn't sell perscription glasses on ebay, but if I were in this postition, my response would be simple.  I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing problems with your purchase.  Please return the item for refund.

Chances are she actually doesn't really want to return the item and will just go away.

[pburn]

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@mam98031 wrote:

IMHO really a bad idea to buy perscription lenses off Ebay.

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It's really a bad idea to sell prescription lenses on eBay.  (See my message #9 just above yours.)  

[mam98031]

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@pburn wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

IMHO really a bad idea to buy perscription lenses off Ebay.

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It's really a bad idea to sell prescription lenses on eBay.  (See my message #9 just above yours.)  

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I saw that.  I didn't know that before your post, but it sure makes sense.  Sometimes Ebay needs to protect us from ourselves.  It is a terrible idea to purchase perscription lenses on a site such as this.  So much damage can be done to one's eyes when wearing a perscription that is wrong for you.  I understand the desire to save money as perscription lenses are way too expensive.  But the risk is so high to do even more damage to your eyes, it just isn't worth it.

[moo*cow*corner]

Agree with all the others. Return for refund.

I recently had a buyer tell me she didn't want to return anything, but was demanding some money back. I sent her a return label, and she immediately closed the SNAD case herself. Reported and blocked, in a hurry.

[mam98031]

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@moo*cow*corner wrote:

Agree with all the others. Return for refund.

I recently had a buyer tell me she didn't want to return anything, but was demanding some money back. I sent her a return label, and she immediately closed the SNAD case herself. Reported and blocked, in a hurry.

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And that is OFTEN the outcome with buyers that want a partial refund.  

[a_c_green]

Obviously she just wants to keep them for a lesser price; a partial refund isn't going to make her see any better with them (although I have an alternate theory on that below). Regardless of how your listing was worded regarding returns, just offer to take them back for a full refund, and don't go down that rabbit hole of haggling a partial refund.

A little off-topic, but I'm puzzled as to how you have the full details of these glasses and you know that they don't match your prescription, but you haven't just returned these yourself to get your money back? Granted, you did find a buyer for these, at least temporarily, but I have to say that listing prescription lenses here on the offchance that you're going to find a buyer with the same prescription and who is looking for glasses on-line and likes the pair you have listed seems like a real longshot...

Alternate Theory™: I guess if the frames are still current, someone could buy them and then have their own prescription lenses swapped in. Perhaps that's what this buyer is looking to do; it's just that their choice of story to justify a partial refund instead of a return is not really making a ton of sense.